What is the difference between a monocot and a dicot?
A monocot, which an abbreviation for monocotyledon, will have only one cotyledon and a dicot, or dicotyledon, will have two cotyledons. However, this distinction will not help you when you are trying to determine which group a plant belongs to if it is no longer a seedling.
Is a monocot a fibrous root system?
Monocots have a root system that is composed of a network of fibrous roots as shown in the picture to the right. These roots all arose from the stem of the plant and are called adventitious roots. Also, woody trees that are not gymnosperms (pine, cedar, cypress, etc.) are dicots.
Do all monocots have narrow leaves like grass?
However, this does not mean that all monocots have narrow grass-like leaves. Arrowhead (left) is a monocot. Because the leaves have lobes that hang downwards, it almost looks like the veins branch out in the same manner as described for palmate veins.
What is the difference between a monocot and an angiosperm?
All monocot seedlings emerge from the soil with only one initial leaf, whereas the majority of angiosperms have two embryonic leaves and are dicotyledons. Monocots also display a number of other characteristics that distinguish them from other angiosperms; these include differences in leaves, stems, flowers and pollen.
Why do monocots have runners and rhizomes?
This necessitates early development of roots derived from the shoot (adventitious roots). In addition to roots, monocots develop runners and rhizomes, which are creeping shoots. Runners serve vegetative propagation, have elongated internodes, run on or just below the surface of the soil and in most case bear scale leaves.
How do you identify a monocot plant?
A monocot plant can almost always be identified by the pattern of veins through their leaves. Monocots have parallel leaf venation where the veins run down the length of the leaf in parallel lines.